APHG Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes Practice Test (Free MCQ and FRQ) Questions and Answers. Are you preparing for AP Human Geography Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes? We’ve got you covered with a comprehensive practice test featuring free multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and free-response questions (FRQ) answers.
Our APHG Unit 6 practice test is designed to help you master the essential concepts of urbanization, city structure, and the impact of urban land use on society and the environment. Enhance your understanding and boost your confidence with our detailed questions and answers, tailored to meet your study needs. Start practicing now to excel in your AP Human Geography exam!
APHG Unit 6 Practice Test – MCQ
APHG Unit 6 Practice Test – FRQ
Free-Response Questions
1. Urbanization and City Structure
(A) Discuss the factors that contribute to the growth of urban areas. Include examples of both push and pull factors.
(B) Explain how the Burgess concentric zone and Hoyt sector models describe urban land use. Compare their applicability to modern cities.
2. Urban Land Use and Environmental Impact
(A) Define urban sprawl and discuss its causes and effects on the environment and society.
(B) Analyze the role of public transportation in shaping urban land-use patterns. Provide specific examples from different cities.
Free-Response Answers
1. Urbanization and City Structure
(A) Discuss the factors that contribute to the growth of urban areas. Include examples of both push and pull factors.
Answer:
Factors Contributing to Urban Growth:
Push Factors:
- Rural Poverty: Limited economic opportunities in rural areas push people to migrate to cities for better employment.
- Example: In many developing countries, rural poverty drives migration to urban areas where industrial jobs are available.
- Lack of Services: Inadequate access to healthcare, education, and other services in rural areas can push residents to move to cities.
- Example: Rural residents in sub-Saharan Africa often move to cities to access better healthcare and educational facilities.
Pull Factors:
- Economic Opportunities: Cities offer more job opportunities, higher wages, and the potential for upward mobility.
- Example: Major metropolitan areas like New York City and Tokyo attract individuals seeking employment in diverse industries such as finance, technology, and entertainment.
- Access to Services: Urban areas provide better access to education, healthcare, and social services.
- Example: Cities like London and Paris are known for their world-class healthcare systems and educational institutions, drawing people from rural areas and other countries.
(B) Explain how the Burgess concentric zone and Hoyt sector models describe urban land use. Compare their applicability to modern cities.
Answer:
Burgess Concentric Zone Model:
- Proposed by Ernest Burgess in 1925, this model describes urban land use in concentric rings radiating outward from the central business district (CBD).
- Zones include the CBD, transition zone (industry and poorer housing), working-class residential zone, middle-class residential zone, and commuter zone (suburbs).
Hoyt Sector Model:
- Proposed by Homer Hoyt in 1939, this model describes urban land use in sectors or wedges radiating outward from the CBD along transportation routes.
- Sectors include areas for industry, low-income housing, middle-income housing, and high-income housing, typically extending outward along major roads or rail lines.
Comparison and Applicability to Modern Cities:
- Burgess Model: While the concentric zone model provides a simple and clear representation of early 20th-century industrial cities, it is less applicable to modern cities with more complex spatial structures and multiple business districts.
- Hoyt Model: The sector model is more applicable to modern cities with distinct transportation corridors and the tendency for certain economic activities to cluster along these routes. However, it does not account for multiple centers or nodes within a city.
Both models have limitations in explaining the development of contemporary cities with decentralized patterns and polycentric structures, such as Los Angeles or Houston, which are better described by the multiple nuclei model.
2. Urban Land Use and Environmental Impact
(A) Define the concept of urban sprawl and discuss its causes and effects on both the environment and society.
Answer:
Urban Sprawl: Urban sprawl refers to the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into the surrounding rural land, characterized by low-density, car-dependent development with a lack of centralized planning.
Causes of Urban Sprawl:
- Increased Automobile Use: The rise of automobile ownership and improved road infrastructure make living farther from city centers easier.
- Desire for Larger Homes: People seek larger homes and yards, often more affordable in suburban and exurban areas.
- Zoning Laws: Zoning policies that favor single-family homes and segregated land uses contribute to spread-out development.
- Economic Factors: Lower land costs on the urban fringe encourage developers to build outward rather than upward.
Effects on the Environment:
- Loss of Agricultural Land and Open Space: Urban sprawl consumes valuable farmland and natural habitats, reducing biodiversity and local food production.
- Example: The sprawling development around cities like Atlanta has led to significant loss of forests and farmland.
- Increased Pollution: Greater reliance on cars leads to higher emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants.
- Example: Urban sprawl in Los Angeles contributes to severe air pollution and traffic congestion.
Effects on Society:
- Infrastructure Costs: Sprawling development requires extensive infrastructure, such as roads, utilities, and public services, which can strain municipal budgets.
- Example: The spread-out nature of suburban areas increases the cost of providing water, sewage, and emergency response services.
- Social Segregation: Urban sprawl often leads to socioeconomic and racial segregation, as wealthier individuals move to suburban areas, leaving lower-income populations in the urban core.
- Example: Many U.S. cities, including Detroit, experience significant income disparities between suburban and inner-city areas.
(B) Analyze the role of public transportation in shaping urban land-use patterns. Provide specific examples from different cities.
Answer:
Role of Public Transportation: Public transportation systems influence urban land-use patterns by encouraging higher-density development, reducing automobile reliance, and promoting more sustainable and livable cities.
Examples:
New York City, USA:
- The extensive subway system in New York City has shaped the city’s high-density development and vertical growth. Neighborhoods with subway access tend to have higher population densities, mixed-use development, and reduced car dependency.
- Example: Areas around major subway hubs like Times Square and Union Square have high concentrations of residential, commercial, and office spaces, making them vibrant and accessible.
Tokyo, Japan:
- Tokyo’s efficient and reliable public transportation network, including subways, trains, and buses, supports one of the world’s largest metropolitan populations. The city’s land use is characterized by high-density development around transit stations, seamlessly integrating commercial and residential areas.
- Example: The Shibuya and Shinjuku districts are major commercial centers built around transportation hubs, attracting businesses, retail, and entertainment venues.
Curitiba, Brazil:
- Curitiba is renowned for its innovative Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which has influenced urban planning and land use. The city’s BRT corridors have encouraged the development of high-density residential and commercial zones along major routes, reducing urban sprawl and promoting sustainable growth.
- Example: The dedicated BRT lanes and strategically placed bus stops have led to transit-oriented development, with mixed-use buildings and pedestrian-friendly environments along the main corridors.
By understanding these concepts and examples, students can gain a deeper insight into the complex processes and patterns that shape urban development and land use in cities worldwide.
See also:
- Back to AP Human Geography Practice Test 2024 with Study Guide [PDF]
- Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
- Unit 2: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes
- Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
- Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes
- Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes
- Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes
- Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes